mommy & me

If only I weren't so damn tired I'd be able to remember more but right now this is all you get. My day with Zuzu went something like this...

mom: (after zuzu slaps me in the tush while prancing by) excuse me?
zuzu: I didn't fart

mom: please stop kicking the dog
zuzu: I'm not kicking her, I'm just petting her with my foot

mom: did you play with Andie at school today?
zuzu: yes, and I didn't throw sand in her face

my kids are weird

Seriously. Are yours? Is it normal to have weird kids?

I'm sitting here uploading weekend photos from my camera, as well as both of my parents cameras, and find myself somewhat startled by what I see. In the moment, each experience (and outfit) was not terribly absurd, a little odd maybe but not remarkable. But as I sit back and piece them all together my children look just plain crazy. Wacko. And these are just the moments that were actually caught on film and/or suitable to share with total strangers. One benefit I do see here, before I duck and hide, is that I've got some pretty strong back-up for any necessary bribery in 10-12 years...

And yes, the ball did hit her in the head. Good thing she was wearing that helmet.

oops

It was a hectic afternoon today as we started preparing to leave for Gage's soccer practice. Zuzu was still in her pajamas from the nap she never managed to take so I asked her to head to her room and pick out some clothes while I cleaned up and got myself ready. She emerged wearing an old Dora t-shirt that was a gift from an old babysitter (I must make that clear so that you don't assume I actually condone it), and her favorite purple tiered skirt from mini boden. On her feet she wore red & purple heart socks that were sent by Grammy for Valentine's Day and will still fit her when she's six and a pair of pastel floral mary-jane style target brand sneakers. It was a winning outfit and I'm sorry we didn't get a shot of it before she traded out the shoes and socks for my sneakers.

Nevertheless, after I finished applauding her ability to create such a fabulous ensemble I reached under her skirt and found her butt naked. We went back and forth for a few minutes about which panties she should put on...ariel...snow white...and we couldn't seem to agree. At some point, I suppose I lost interest or got sidetracked because it wasn't until about 45 minutes later when she tripped and fell while running on the soccer field that I realized that she had never actually gone to retrieve any panties at all. She was still butt naked and now everyone at soccer knew it too. I'm sorry we didn't get a shot of that less than graceful fall either but, then again, I wouldn't be able to post it here anyway.

So, as we usher in a lovely, warm weather weekend, I suppose my thought for the day is...never leave home without your panties. You never know when you may end up face first in the dirt with your bum in the air.

three wishes

Every Wednesday we get a big red folder sent home in Gage's backpack. It's full of art work, class work & information about what they've been doing. I'm always surprised at the things that I find. Today it was a green, shamrock shaped booklet with his name handwritten on the front along with a sticker that says IRISH. I'm guessing this was a St. Patrick's Day project. On the cover the text read...

I keep three wishes ready
In case I should meet
Any day a fairy
Flying down the street

Inside there are three lined pages on which Gage was able to write his three wishes and draw a picture of the wish. I was most amused by page #1 although #2 is not something I would have expected either.

Page 1 reads "more mony" with a very realistic image of a dollar bill.
Now I'm not really sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, I'm pleased that he has acknowledged that money is hard to come by and is not readily available at all times for things like #3 however I'm also a little disturbed that money is so important to a five and half year old that it was the VERY FIRST thing that he thought of. Now there is a possibility that the person next to him came up with the idea and he just copied it but I think I'm reaching with that one...

Page 2 reads "zuzu was older" with a picture of a face with three antenna like sprouts coming out of it's head. I have to assume that they are pony tails. This one is actually pretty cool and I'm impressed that he was able to get past superficial toy wishes (like #3) and come up with something so meaningful (which also gives me cause to assume that #1 was his original idea). Gage has been making comments lately about how Zuzu is becoming more fun as she gets older and it's obvious in their one-on-one interactions (when they are not kicking or hitting eachother that is). She has finally become a real person and, although I was (and still am) and only child, I think that both excites him and scares the living hell out of him at the same time.

Page 3 reads"darth maul lego" with a picture of a lego man.
The predictable answer and the only one the flying fairy might actually provide some day. All she has to do is read the two page birthday list. For his OCTOBER birthday.

So...what's on your list for the flying fairy?

dear daddy,

Dear Daddy,
Today was the best birthday celebration ever. We can not BELIEVE all the fun things we got to do with you today. And we definitely can't believe that you were able to keep up with us all day long since you're getting to be so old you know. You must be exhausted!

Here are a few memories from today that we want you to keep with you for as long as you can remember...

And don't forget...
It's your birthday do the birthday dance!
Jump up and down like you got ants in your pants.
Happy. Birthday. Daddy. It's your birthday.
OH YEAH.



I am most grateful today for all the time you have spent with me in the backyard for the past three years practicing baseball...and soccer...and football...and tennis...and swimming. I got to show off those mad skills at my first ever little league game today all thanks to you. I am so glad that you were there to cheer me on and buy me ice cream afterwards.

And we can't forget about the best part of my day rock climbing with you this morning. I'm so lucky to have a dad that sneaks me on the age 14 and over walls when I'm only 5. You have got to be the coolest ever. I can't wait to see what I get away with next!
Love,
Gage




I'm most grateful today that you have been able to remain so strong after all these years. You hold me up so high on your shoulders that I can almost reach the clouds. I also love when you spin me around and around and around so much that I can barely function afterwards. I could do that all day.

My best part of the day today was swimming in the big pool with you. Even though I don't really swim I use it as a good excuse to have you carry me around for an hour and sing princess songs. I can't think of anything I would rather do.

Love,
Zuzu

buh bye winter. HELLO spring.

We welcomed Spring in our home today with open arms and cute bathing suits. While it's still not quite warm enough to swim outside, the indoor pool at the community center was the place to be. Here's to many months of soggy tushies, purple lips and wrinkled toes...

opening day...rookie style.

Nope. No sign of Matthew Broderick and no Beatles tunes to be heard. (If you've just remarked *huh?* you might want to read this post before going any further.) Instead, our little league opening day parade came complete with marching bagpipe band & a green burrito truck. Keeping it real.

Hopefully our Rookie Carolina Mudcats can play baseball better than they can march while holding a sponsor sign. But don't place any bets...

sleeping beauties

How is it that they will fight you tooth and nail about going to sleep at bedtime, in their own beds, after a long, fun filled day, all cozied in with their duvet covers, four pillows, flannel sheets & plushies galore but they manage to sleep in the back of a rugged SUV like this in the middle of the afternoon with no problem? Humph.

bueller? bueller? bueller?

It seems like we've been talking about Little League for five years now (oh yeah, we probably have) and now we find ourselves only two days away from Opening Day. But before we can officially begin the season we must participate in The Parade. I've never actually seen the parade for myself (probably has something to do with the fact that it begins at 9:00 am on a Saturday) but rumor has it that it's quite an ordeal and for some reason I just can not get the image of Ferris Bueller out of my mind...or the song *Twist & Shout* for that matter.

The parents aren't actually allowed to join in the parade so the lucky rookie coach gets to manage a dozen 5 & 6 year olds that he has met once while walking about a mile through town. Good luck, Coach. If you can do this I'm sure we're in for one hell of a season!

We had our first practice yesterday although I suppose I should have put *practice* in quotes because I'm not actually sure it did anything to actually prepare us for the first game on Sunday. I have a sinking suspicion that some of the kids don't even know which order to run the bases. Or when. Should make for quite an amusing competition.

Here are some shots from our virgin practice...

Three classmates listen carefully to the Coach's welcoming speech. They seem to be taking this all very seriously...


Something about this picture reminded me of the Bad News Bears...


Gage's favorite part of Little League is the batting helmet. He had to be coerced into removing it when practice was over. But considering the proliferation of head lice in our schools he might just get his wish and earn one of his very own...


The most amusing part of the hour for me was the outfielding. The kids practiced in groups of four. One hitter and three fielders. But what none of the boys have yet to grasp is that they are ALL ON THE SAME TEAM...


And of course little miss Zuzu happily entertained the sibling masses with her barefoot bohemian adventures & princess art supplies...

wordless wednesday

she's a keeper

Today was a good day. In fact, according to Gage, it might very well have been the best day of his life so far.

The kids found various ways to entertain themselves this afternoon. Granted, most of them grossed me out or irked me to no end but that's not the point. I looked beyond the algae on their feet, the soaking wet clothes & the piles of pillows on the floor and sat back to just enjoy them (while sipping a beer & twittering about them of course). They were creative and they had a blast. The laughter and joy the two of them created together was indescribable.

When we sat down to dinner Gage announced that this was "the best day of his life". I saw this as a rare opportunity so I stood on my proverbial soap box and gave a lesson that went something like this...

"Do you know why this was such a great day? You didn't get a new toy. You didn't have a play date. But, what you did do was work with your sister to get creative and try new things. You made this the best day of your life all by yourself."

To which Gage responded (almost verbatim because I immediately ran and wrote it all down while wiping a tear from my eye)...

"If I ever say something like 'Give away Zuzu' it was a mistake because she is really fun. (pause) Almost the best thing I have. (pause) Maybe it is the best thing I have."

So what if she's an "it". I'm ok with that.

not me monday

I absolutely did not participate in 10 minutes of sheer trash living today. And I was not acutely aware of it either. This was not the scenario...

Zuzu was riding in the back seat of my SUV eating Safeway fried chicken tenders with her bare hands that just handled the steering wheel of a kiddie shopping car and were by no means wiped...sitting only in the plastic frame of her car seat, atop a puffy Target jacket for a little padding under her bum because she soaked the cover and foam with urine while having a temper tantrum several hours earlier...singing Hannah Montana on the top of her lungs while I sat at a red light and texting while driving about a friend's creepy blind date that stood her up. At least it's a luxury automobile.

What did you NOT do today?

name that princess tune

wordless wednesday

our princess & the pea.

the invisible boy & his master plan

Tonight we were getting ready for bed and Gage was whining incessantly about the new Lego toys that are on his wish list while I explain that toys cost money & mommy doesn't have money...yada, yada yada. You know the drill. He's quiet for a minute and then he busts out with this...

Gage: I wish I was invisible

(Mom pauses from making sisters bed & looks at him curiously thinking he's going to start getting all emotional on me)

Mom: Why do you want to be invisible, Gage?

Gage: Because then I could run into the toy store and scoop up all the toys I wanted and run out and no one would know. (contemplating further) I wish I were invisible everywhere except at home and then I could do anything I wanted.

(Mom pauses again to silently commend the creativity at hand but I don't dare show it. Instead I try desperately to refrain from laughing and say probably all too seriously...)

Mom: But you understand that would be stealing...right?

def poetry by "the hebrew mamita"

Found this on my friend Jill's blog. Powerful shit.

may you rise

Taken directly from YouTube...
"Soul Surf Media presents part one of three sequences of the Rainbow Sandals Gerry Lopez Battle of the Paddle. In this sequence the sun rises on Doheny State Beach as racers line up boards for the open race and elite racers begin the check in process. Music by the Mason Brothers (www.masonbrothersmusic.com) / Produced by Soul Surf Media (www.SoulSurfMedia.com)"

What's so special about this? Hello? That's right. The Mason Brothers are my cousins. And more importantly than that, they rock. Check out more of their music on MySpace. Click. Listen. Fall in love. Enough said.

not me monday

I have not avoided not me monday for several weeks now out of sheer boredom associated with the exercise as well as an honest lack of creativity.

It did not take me three tries to spell boredom correctly.

I am not more excited for my nearly 5 hours alone tomorrow than I have been for anything in an awfully long time. Sorry kids. It is what it is.

We have not polished off nearly three boxes of girl scout cookies in about three days. Oh and I definitely didn't use the word "we" intentionally to make you think I didn't eat them all myself.

Oh, this one's good. I did not receive Lucy's custom (expensive) dog tags in the mail this weekend with two phone numbers etched onto the back.
1. my cell phone number
2. our home phone number. From the house that sold 4 1/2 years ago.
Duh?

I did not order a plush doggie bed for Lucy today which I don't (strangely enough) intend to place on the king size human bed so that she may no longer be so inclined to sleep ON MY FACE.
Don't wish me luck.

What have you not done lately?

trouble...

...with a capital L.

is it that obvious?

mom: if you could be any dwarf who would you be?
zuzu: dopey
mom: why would you be dopey?
zuzu: because I would like to flap my arms around (enacts arm flapping)


mom: what dwarf would mommy be?
zuzu: um....sleepy.

not now love, mommy's twittering...

Zuzu has been asking me to buy her "makeup" recently. I keep telling her that she's not old enough but I'm starting to rethink that. This is about the fourth time she's painted her lips with marker. Thing is, I don't even wear lipstick so she's not copying me. Must be those damn princesses again with their plump ruby red lips. In fact, I believe it's all Snow White's fault.

Oh, and why the tears you're asking? Well, when I saw Zuzu with the painted face I did my best not to laugh and grab the camera (although I did that too). This time I actually told her that she looked ridiculous and that she just might be embarrassed to go to gymnastics like that tomorrow. She burst out in tears and wouldn't even look at herself in the mirror. I almost felt bad. Almost.


So then she gets relegated to the bath and what does she do? She draws on her face with the bath crayons.

i should have told her...

Now I am generally anti-self-exposing games on Facebook but after seeing some of my friend's results (and assuming that they cheated when they swear they didn't) I just couldn't resist. Try it. You might end up with a good laugh...or a good cry. But either way it's pretty outrageous. I swear, as much as I wanted to, I did not cheat once.

These are the rules:
1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, iPod, ect. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write that song name down.

IF SOMEONE SAYS 'ARE YOU OKAY' YOU SAY?
ice cream man – van halen

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
broke window – gary jules

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
protection – massive attack

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
please be kind – frank sinatra

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
if you leave - OMD

WHAT'S YOUR MOTTO
better together – jack johnson

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
under the bridge – red hot chili peppers

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
i wish – skee-lo

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
major tom – peter schilling

WHAT IS 2 + 2?
naked as we came – iron & wine

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
mushaboom - feist

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
underwater love – smoke city

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
born slippy - underworld

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
how far we’ve come – matchbox twenty

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
the best is yet to come – frank sinatra

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
creep - radiohead

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
you’re beautiful – james blunt

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
patience – guns n’ roses

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
kiss kiss – chris brown

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?
sunday morning – the velvet underground

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
i'm real – Jennifer lopez

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
i should have told her - vinx

wordless wednesday

...and some shameless self promotion.

sing, sing a song...

The kindergarten parents were invited to attend music class today. I had a conflict but when I saw the look of disappointment on Gage's face this morning I rushed home and made the call. Fortunately, I was able to rearrange my schedule and I'm so happy I did. He was thrilled to see me!

Gage is such a little performer and if you don't know him personally he's the one with the long hair and the short pants. Also the one at which the camera is generally directed. As we were uploading this video just now he told me that he was a little embarrassed that I was there watching (might have been my indiscreet toggling between the video camera & SLR)...but I don't think it shows.

This has been edited...but it is still long. Feel free to skim (unless you are a Parent or Grandparent, of course. You, my dears, must watch it all!)

Oh, and by the way. One small but quite valuable thing to note. Music & Art programs are not supported in our schools by the state of California. Instead, we have one of the poorest education systems in the nation. Sad, but true. A wonderful organization created by and funded by local parents & generous community members is the reason our children are able to sing & dance like this at school. And for that, we are thankful.

magnetic mosaics

Legend & Examples of completed pictures...


Blank *canvas*...


Gage's completed firetruck...

Have you seen these magnetic mosaics from The Orb Factory? It's not something I run across in many stores so I forget about it a lot but when we get super bored (sounds like my theme this week) we always pull it out.

It's basically a paint by numbers activity...but with far less mess. My kind of game! First you choose your pre-planned picture from a master sheet. Then you apply magnets to a blank sheet with colors corresponding to numbers.

I believe this was gifted to Gage as a 4th birthday present and was a perfectly appropriate activity. Zuzu is still a little young. Actually, she's probably old enough and bright enough but she simply does not have the focus or desire. Being the free-spirit that she is however, she does like making random designs with the pink & purple magnets...but that's not really the point.

Oh, and by the way...
If you're trying to figure out how the blank canvas of the race car became a completed fire truck...quit while you're ahead.

artsy fartsy

Rainy days and Sundays always get me down...or force me to get creative!
This post is basically for the Grandparents but if you happen to appreciate it then hugs to you too...

garage art. acrylic on canvas by Gage...


garage art. acrylic on canvas by Zuzu...


portrait of a lego tank & jet. marker on paper by Gage...


happy travelers. marker on paper by Gage...


bed time letters. pen on paper by Gage...